Lighting for set

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Draccan

Well-known member
Hi,

What do you people think of Sachtler Lights?

https://www.globalmediapro.com/do/category/sachlightsets

I know nothing of set lights. I was thinking about getting three on tripods with umbrellas.

1. What's the advantages/differences of getting 1000H, 300Hs, 650HS, 75HABD and 75HDs?

2. Is there a set among these or otherwhere that better can cover your needs if you want to have lots of lots and dimmer lights and even use them outdoors?
Reason I ask is because I was wondering to the the 1000H and was hoping I could use them outdoors too and also position them in a way indoor - like use only one when I just want modest or little light? Or is that impossible?

3. Any recommendations for a light set on tripods for around 1000-2000 $ that would cover most needs?

Best regards,

LLD
 
Draccan,
Sachtler Lights-Never used them, but I use their tripods nearly everyday and those are good. Also I'm not sure what you mean by set lights. What kind of set? Big-small-News-soundstage? What are you wanting to shoot?

Before you buy lights I'd reccomend you buy a book. I got this one (matters of light and depth http://www.lowel.com/book.html )a long time ago but it was very good. There are so many variables w/ lighting. If you're shooting w/ a DVX and looking at a starter kit then you could go buy a pepper kit check these out. . .
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...per&ci=1&ac=&al=&bl=&sb=ps&sq=asc&fi=all&pn=5
or a lowell kit. . .
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...i=2247&ac=&al=&bl=61&sb=ps&sq=asc&fi=all&pn=3

but I don't think you're going to need more than a couple/few 650Watt, and a couple/few 200watt lights. Especially if you don't really know what you're doing. Make sure you have barn doors, umbrellas come in handy, so do chimeras (or softboxes).
 
Lighting is a very subjective. There is a vast amount of technical knowledge you must master, to understand the effects of different types of lighting instruments on both video and film. Along with that knowledge there are even more light modification devices to further refine or alter the light produced. Once you have all of that down then you can start painting with light, which will help focus the point of view and set the mood for the scene. You asked what we think of these lights, well there is no simple answer. It all depends what you want to use the light for. For every lighting task there is a proper light, and maybe more then one. If these lights fit your task then they are good lights, if they don't then there not good for the task. So many people try to make a square peg fit in a round hole when it comes to lighting. There has been a lot of reasearch and development to create the lighting instruments we have today, as technology changes so will lighting instruments, but hopefully the result won't and thats the artstic touch of the gaffer.
 
Guess I am just looking for a starter set to cover most needs as I said... something that would have multiple uses for 1000-2000 $ ..
I need to get started.. But I am getting a book about the topic also as I can see there is many technical aspects and terminology that I am unacquainted with..
 
Two good books

Professional Lighting Handbook carlson-carlson
This is a technical reference to give all the physical aspects of lights, I carry it on every shoot

Painting with light John Alton
Very old, black and white days, but the best book I've read for insight on the artistic element of lighting
 
Books just ordered from Amazon.. thanks!

Wonder if there are any general differences between Sachtler lights, Lowel etc..

Also if there is any one good set of lights for 1000-2000 $ dollar that would be good for multiple purposes. Like three different types in one set...
 
I really hate to recommend a specific kit, but if I could get just one it would be something like this

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...s&Q=&sku=225026&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

This has three fresnel lights and a chimera. That gives you a softlight that can be for fill and two lights to work with. If the sachtler lights are along those lines then it would be somewhat of a versitile set.

With that said I don't think theres a one size fits all when it comes to lighting. Thats why on a movie set the light truck comes in the form of a Semi.
 
Fresnels are focusable, Lowels are typically broad lights (though some are focusable) the chimera provides a more controllable soft light then an umbrella. But again, it's all in what you want to do with the lights. Rather then buying a three light package and trying to make do, I'd rent what you need for each job you have.
 
But with a film in various settings .. renting for many diff things can be a pain .. so I thought a set with three would get me far.. chimera / umbrellas and barndoors and positioning could hopefully get me far...

Sounds interesting with the focusable lights...

Anyways I guess I will know more when I get the three books I ordered on the topic.

Thanks..
 
What makes it better? Well it's an Arri kit. They are the industry standard. They are the best there is. The german lenses produce the best light pattern, they are much more rugged than lowels.

Also, they are fresnel type, wich means they spread an even beam of light. Fresnels are, in my opinion, the most versatile source there is. The softbox is chimera, also the best there is in softboxes, both in ruggedness and quality of light. This is a very nice kit with all top quality gear. This will certainly outlast you camera and most other lighting acessories you might come to buy.

Lowels are great though, especially beacuse of their size and portability. Lowell designs are very clever and their fixtures are very useful. I know Walter Graff, one of our expert users keeps a kit mostly based on them. The Rifa is the fastest softbox to setup and they are a little cheaper.

So they have different qualities, you need to choose which better fit your shooting method.

Umbrellas are personal. I for instance never use them. A softbox is much more useful than an umbrella, and if I have to bouce light, I bounce on white foamcore., softer light and easier to controll spilling (from the source).
 
Well Gopher, although your academic approach of renting according to each situation is a lot more sensible, for low budget independent it can make more sense to go buy an interview kit, and renting extra gear that is location specific for short periods...
 
You can always suppliment your kit with inexpensive gear, such as silver "bell" lamps (with a clamp) from Home Depot for about $6.00 US, or 500W dual worklights. I keep these on hand for when an Arri or it's legs will crowd a shot or to help fill.
 
None of those kits would be a good starter kit. If you must choose one of those, go for 300 kit, and make sure you get the 110v version.

a good starter kit is something like the arri set that has a 1k, 650, 300, and 2- 150. That is much more usable kit for wide array situations. I think that kit runs near 3 grand though.

You may want to consider some Altman starter kits. They have several 3 and 4 light kits under 2 grand. I know Bulbtronics is a distributor for them.

Bear in mind that lights without barndoors, scrims, flags, gels and black wrap is like a car without a steering wheel, tires and gas. It may look nice in garage but it won't get you where you need to go. You can also find used lights for great prices, like older Mole sets, may not be pretty but will get the job done for much less. Try ebay and craigslist.

A word of caution: ALL these so-called kits come with stands for the lights. These stands are a joke, very hard to sand bag (you need sand bags) and they fall over VERY easily and are very dangerous. I STRONGLY recommend using professional stands from Mathews or Norms. C-stands are great, no need for big combo stands unless you're using 2ks or bigger.

If you're looking to make low budget movies and do any serious video work, a real starter kit will include a lot more and run you around 10grand, including all the extra grip stuff you'll need. And again, that's a starter kit. My light and grip kit is around 25 grand. And I'm still limited with it since that doesn't include any HMIs. And don't forget this stuff doesn't fit in a car - you'll need a van.

welcome to the film world$$$$$$$$$$$
 
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